Museum of Science and Industry

William Francis is the first steam locomotive to arrive for a mass gathering of Beyer-Garratt locomotives at MOSI next month, to celebrate 100 years since one of the world’s most successful locomotives was built at Beyer, Peacock works in Manchester.  

The 61.5 tonnes steam locomotive is owned by Bressingham Steam Museum in Norfolk. It was bought in 1937 for Baddesley Colliery in Warwick and worked until the 1960s - probably the last working Garratt in the UK. The William Francis is the first of six full-sized visiting locomotives and over 80 miniature locomotives expected at MOSI during the Great Garratt Gathering on 14-16 August, which will be launched by steam enthusiast and record producer Pete Waterman. In total, there will be eight Beyer, Peacock locomotives at MOSI – the largest gathering in the UK since the factory closed in 1966. The event is part of the MOSI Transport Festival on 8-16 August.

In 1909 Herbert William Garratt designed an articulated locomotive to help trains cope with sharp bends and steep gradients. The locomotive became known as the Beyer-Garratt and was manufactured at the Beyer, Peacock factory in Gorton, Manchester. The design became so successful that a total 1636 Garratts were produced by various companies, which ran on 86 railways in 48 countries. The K1 Beyer-Garratt, which was Garratt’s original design of locomotive and today operates on the Welsh Highland Railway, will also join the gathering.

Steve Davies MBE, director of MOSI said: “It’s very exciting to have such a large steam engine arrive at the Museum. This is just the beginning. Over the next couple of weeks five more locos will join the gathering as well as our own steam locomotives, and 80 or more miniature locomotives. We’re aiming to get 100 Beyer-Garratts on site to celebrate the centenary of this fantastic Gorton-built steam engine. It will be an amazing weekend for all the family so please do come along and join in the fun!” 

The William Francis will join MOSI’s own 1930 Beyer-Garratt, which was built for the South African Railways, ‘Pender’ the tank engine, built in 1874 by Beyer, Peacock for the Isle of Man, and the working replica Planet – the original of which was built by Robert Stephenson in 1830. There will also be a further five guest locomotives.

In addition, there will be an open day for MOSI’s archives, with a display about the history of the engine’s design and production through the use of company records, photographs and drawings.

Beyer, Peacock was founded in Gorton, Manchester in 1854 by Charles Frederick Beyer and Richard Peacock. The factory closed in 1966 and the company became dormant although the name was resurrected in 1990 as a trading name, based in Devon.

The Great Garratt Gathering will be held on 14-16 August 2009, from 10am-5pm at MOSI (Museum of Science & Industry), Castlefield, Manchester. It is part of the MOSI Transport Festival, which celebrates over 100 years of North West transport innovations. For more information on taking part in the mass gathering please contact Chris Barnett on Tel: 0161 606 0214 c.barnett@mosi.org.uk  

For media information or images please call Sarah Roe on 0161 606 0176 m: 07847 372647 or Diane Inglis on Tel: 0161 606 0173.

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